Bonding

For damaged or discolored teeth, bonding may be the simplest answer for repair. Bonding can cover stains, fill in chips or fractures, or restore decayed areas and is one of the most economical dental procedures available. Bonding is also useful for covering exposed tooth roots caused by gum recession.

Bonding uses a special dental plastic called composite resin. Composite resin is easily color-matched to the original tooth, making the repair look as natural as before the damage occurred.

Although the tooth needs to be roughed slightly with a conditioning gel, composite resin requires little preparation before application. Anesthesia is typically not necessary.

After application, ultraviolet light is used to harden the composite resin. It is then trimmed (if necessary), shaped, and polished to blend in with the surrounding teeth. This procedure can be accomplished in one visit, no matter how many teeth are needing repair. It takes 30 to 60 minutes per tooth.

Once applied, care of the bonded areas just requires normal brushing, flossing, and rinsing as you would the rest of your teeth. The only precaution given is to avoid high-staining foods for at least 48 hours. Smoking, coffee, tea, and berries should be avoided.

If you have damaged teeth that may benefit from bonding, Stines Family Dentistry can help.